How To Conduct a Corporate Security Assessment

Understanding how your business and professional security intersect is crucial, especially as crime rates continue to rise. That’s where a corporate security assessment is necessary, delivering a robust, business-specific understanding of what you need to do, when you need to do it, and why it matters.

Understanding what a good corporate security strategy looks like can be a challenge, though, especially with conflicting information, unique obstacles, and an evolving business landscape. We’ve outlined all the key steps towards developing a security plan that’s designed with your business in mind, as well as taking any necessary legislation in stride.

6 Security Audit Steps For Your Corporate Assessment

A good corporate security assessment starts with defining your existing measures, conducting a thorough risk inspection and analysis, and detailing all the risk factors that could impact your business. You should then identify areas where security should be focused, before contacting a professional security services company to fulfil those requirements.

Let’s dive into more detail for each of those elements and what they might look like as part of your workplace’s security vulnerability assessment.

1. Define & Review Your Existing Security Measures

The first step – and one of the more non-negotiable security audit steps in the process – is to pinpoint what you already have in place to secure your business. This can come in many forms, but in our experience, that usually includes:

• Basic security measures, like door and window locks, locked storage areas, equipment stores, and server rooms
• Any existing security solutions, like concierge security, reception desk services, or static personnel that are positioned at your premises
• Intruder alarm systems, detection points, and monitoring equipment
• Access controls, such as ID badges, fobs, and any assigned keys
• Existing, non-regulated security measures, like staff lock-ups or in-house training

Understanding the security you have in place is an essential part of developing a thorough strategy for your corporate physical security assessment. From there, you’ll be able to take the next step – delving into the details of your site.

2. Conduct A Site-Wide Inspection & Analysis

As part of a robust risk assessment for corporate security, conduct a thorough inspection of every area of your site. That’s obviously more true for some others than others – entrances, windows, and delivery access, for example – but your security vulnerability assessment should encompass every area of your premises.

This will naturally look different based on your site. For example, if you’re conducting a corporate security assessment at your logistics facility, some of the key things you’ll need to consider are:

• Loading docks, shutters and HGV yards
• Warehousing and major storage facilities
• Staff areas, including any changing rooms or break areas
• Lock-ups for high-value merchandise
• Windows, doors, and other points of entry
• Your staff figures, and any pertinent retention statistics (high staff turnover can present an issue)

A security assessment framework for an office or commercial premises will look drastically different. As standard, you’ll need to look at:

• Entrance and exit points and their existing locking mechanisms
• Internal doors, access control systems, and any necessary keys, fobs or codes
• Windows, especially if you’re in a ground-floor office
• Sensitive information (such as data stores or filing cabinets)
• Server rooms or other volatile aspects of your premises
• Existing security measures, like a concierge service

This can be a challenging step on the road towards completing your corporate risk assessment, but there are options available. A professional security company like ProFM Group will include this as part of any package, as it provides a firm foundation on which to build a comprehensive protective service.

3. Catalogue & Categorise All Risk Factors

Once you’ve completed (or contacted a professional security service to complete on your behalf) your corporate risk assessment, you should start categorising your risks by severity. We find that the best way to do this is to assign them a score between 1 and 5, with 5 being the most severe risk.

For example, if you’ve uncovered a loose internal lock but all external doors lock thoroughly with firm access controls, you could categorise that as a 2. This would still need to be addressed, but it isn’t as much of a concern as it could be, especially if other measures in your corporate security strategy are still in place (such as key fobs or ID badges).

However, a malfunctioning intruder alarm system is a significant cause for concern – criminals could have uninterrupted access to your premises, as well as any sensitive data. You should categorise that as a 5 – a repair or mitigatory measure is essential in both the short- and long-term.

4. Implement Solutions To Those Issues

Now that you’re clear on what needs to be addressed, as well as its level of urgency, you can work on implementing the necessary actions. For the most part, these will be minor changes – a lock being fixed on an internal door usually won’t require a large-scale adjustment or project, but it does still need to be addressed.

However, for larger-scale changes, you’ll need to plan how you’ll implement them and whether any services need to be outsourced. For example, if you’re a small, independent retailer that has experienced issues with break-ins, it might be worthwhile to invest in shutters or an intruder alarm with an attached monitoring service.

If you’re a bigger business, though, you’ll naturally need a more comprehensive solution in place. For instance, if your office block is experiencing issues with antisocial behaviour or vandalism, a more permanent physical security professional may be needed alongside any existing measures you have in place.

This is where a professional security solution comes into play, particularly one that evolves alongside changing security demands. That’s something we’ve continually championed, and it’s best exemplified by our work with one of Pickford Wharf’s major corporate premises, where we deliver a constant security presence and protection for employees.

You may also consider a more budget-friendly corporate security solution, especially if you’re facing financial constraints.

That can still be delivered by a professional, and with the same level of consistency and qualification that you’d expect. ProFM Group’s lock and unlock packages are what we’d recommend here, offering an SIA-licensed professional to deliver a solution that’s tailored to suit your hours of operation.

It’s a package we already provide for one of the UK’s most recognisable waste service providers, all built around their major facility on the Fylde Coast. Not only does this allow their operations to run smoothly and disruption-free, but it also aligns with their insurance requirements, which are notoriously strict in their sector.

5. Update Staff On Key New Policies Or Processes

The next step, regardless of the scale of the issues you’ve addressed and how you’ve addressed them, is to let staff know of any changes. This could be achieved through a new internal policy (essential if you have remote workers who visit occasionally), a group-wide email, or – for smaller businesses – simply informing staff members about the adjustment in person.

Smaller changes (such as replacing a door lock) or those that are likely to affect only a select number of people (changes to access to the server room, for example) won’t require as in-depth communication. These should, however, still be treated as seriously as any other part of your security gap analysis.

If your corporate security assessment leads to the introduction of additional physical measures (such as mobile security patrols or a gatehouse presence), staff should also be informed of what to expect, including any necessary ID checks, paperwork, or sign-in procedures.

6. Routinely Review Your Security Measures

Of course, any good corporate security assessment is designed to ensure a safer and more secure premises. However, that’s only part of the story – you should also ensure that you dedicate time to routinely reviewing your existing measures, identifying any potential areas for improvement, and implementing the right solutions to address those new findings.

For instance, if you’ve recently brought in a popular new product line and are concerned about a rising rate of shoplifting, a retail security officer can offer the cover you need, whether that’s on a temporary or more permanent basis.

Similarly, we’d recommend completing a new corporate security assessment if you move to a new premises, or have expanded the business to encompass more areas (a new loading dock or distribution bay, for example). These new areas naturally bring their own associated risks, and completing an updated security posture analysis allows you to circumvent those issues before they can materialise into something more serious.

A Streamlined Corporate Security Assessment With ProFM Group

While our steps for a security gap analysis can seem time-consuming, there is a simpler solution. With a nationally recognised provider like ProFM Group, you’ll have access to a complete package, guiding you from the initial security audit steps through to a fully-fledged solution that’s designed to grow alongside you.

Contact us today to discuss how we can design a tailored corporate security strategy and how we’re a trusted partner for hundreds of businesses nationwide.